The theory of correspondence is the rationale behind the esoteric teaching that the position of the stars will influence thought, mood, perception, and gestalt.
—JAMES WASSERMAN
For centuries, people around the world have worn gemstones to attract good luck, health, love, and prosperity. Until recently, gemstones were prized for their magickal properties, not their monetary ones. In Central and South America, petitioners dropped jade into wells as gifts to spirits from whom they sought a supply of pure, plentiful water. Roman soldiers carried amulets made of bloodstone, a greenish jasper flecked with red, to staunch bleeding from wounds. Ancient Egyptian women, including Queen Nefertiti, painted their eyelids with crushed malachite, which they believed had the power to prevent infections—modern scientists agree the practice has some validity, due to malachite's mineral composition.
The biblical book of Exodus describes something called the “breastplate of the High Priest,” which supposedly contained twelve gems. According to Judy Hall in The Encyclopedia of Crystals, “The Hebrew word for breastplate actually means ‘pouch,’ so Aaron would have been wearing a linen bag around his neck and chest, with 12 crystals that represented the 12 tribes of Israel” and may have included sardonyx, topaz, turquoise, and amethyst.
Throughout history, many of the most favored gems were thought to have protective and/or healing properties. Reputedly amber shielded the wearer from all types of danger; folklore says it can also keep you from going deaf or losing your teeth. Jade was worn in the East to ensure good health. According to folklore, it protected its owner against evil and accidents too. The ancient Greeks thought jade prevented stomach and kidney problems. Amethysts were believed to calm nervous tension and bring the wearer peace of mind. A favorite stone of Bacchus, legend had it that amethysts also kept one from getting drunk.
Eye amulets—often made of stone and shaped like an eye or with an image of an eye painted or inscribed on it—have safeguarded people from evil forces for centuries. They have long been popular in Arabic culture, as well as among the Persians, Hindus, and Greeks. A traditional eye amulet would have been made from a blue stone, such as sapphire, lapis lazuli, or turquoise.
Nancy Schiffer, in The Power of Jewelry, notes that people once thought gemstones were “capable of human feelings and passions so that they could express jealousy and shock.” Although today we may not credit gems with such strong emotional qualities, people who work with crystals and other stones generally agree that they aren't just inert mineral compositions or beautiful baubles—they're living entities with distinct properties and intelligence. Furthermore, we can establish relationships with them to advance our intentions. Even after all these years, magicians still utilize stones and crystals in their work to augment the power of magick tools, to attract and focus healing energies, and to enhance spells and talismans.
A birthstone is a gem whose vibration harmonizes with a person's sun sign. Although today we wear them primarily for decorative purposes, our ancestors chose gemstones to influence an individual's astrological characteristics as described in his or her birth chart. Gemstones, they believed, could strengthen weaknesses or tone down excesses in a person's natal makeup. Today, as in the past, we use gemstones to attract things we desire and to repel or limit things we don't want to interfere in our lives.
Don't choose a birthstone based on the calendar month in which you were born, however; go by the astrological sign instead. Aquarius, for example, begins on about January 20 and ends around February 18. Astrologers consider the garnet Aquarius's birthstone, but jewelers who don't understand astrology usually link garnets with the month of January and amethysts to February. Amethyst, astrologers argue, belongs to the zodiac sign Pisces.
As you can see in the following lists, each planet and each sign relate to more than one gem. The correspondences are based on energetic properties, colors, and other factors. Aries, known for its aggressive, daring, and fierce nature, is linked with bloodstone, the gem mentioned earlier as an amulet used by Roman soldiers. Moonstone relates to Cancer, which is ruled by the moon. Some stones may possess the qualities of and have affinities with more than one sign, as is the case with aquamarine. Stones that come in many colors, such as agate, are usually associated with the planet(s) and sign(s) that govern their colors; moss-green agate relates to Taurus, red jasper to Aries. However, not all crystal workers and gemologists agree on these attributions, as you might expect.
Sun: golden topaz, tiger's-eye, carnelian, citrine, ruby, yellow sapphire
Moon: pearl, moonstone, snow/milk quartz, calcite, chalcedony
Mercury: fluorite, green tourmaline, larimar, blue lace agate
Venus: rose quartz, jade, turquoise, morganite, malachite, chrysoprase
Mars: bloodstone, carnelian, red sardonyx, red agate, garnet, ruby
Jupiter: turquoise, aventurine, star sapphire
Saturn: onyx, jet, malachite, brown jasper, black tourmaline, obsidian, hematite
Uranus: garnet, zircon, ruby in zoisite
Neptune: aquamarine, sapphire, amethyst
Pluto: bloodstone, obsidian, smoky quartz, nebula stone
Aries: diamond, bloodstone, red sardonyx, carnelian, red jasper
Taurus: emerald, jade, turquoise, aventurine, chrysoprase
Gemini: aquamarine, clear quartz, fluorite, citrine, larimar
Cancer: pearl, moonstone, snow/milk quartz, calcite, chalcedony
Leo: ruby, amber, tiger's-eye, carnelian, golden topaz, citrine
Virgo: peridot, moss agate, brown agate, fluorite, sardonyx, green tourmaline
Libra: rose quartz, opal, jade, morganite, lapis lazuli
Scorpio: smoky quartz, lodestone, bloodstone, black opal, stibnite, labradorite
Sagittarius: turquoise, topaz, aventurine, lapis lazuli, sapphire, sodalite
Capricorn: onyx, jet, smoky quartz, obsidian, hematite
Aquarius: garnet, zircon, ruby in zoisite, aquamarine
Pisces: amethyst, aquamarine, larimar, ametrine, sapphire
In Chapter 10, we talked about the significance of color symbolism in spellcraft. When you're working with crystals and gemstones, choose stones whose colors correspond to your intention.
COLORS AND THE CHAKRAS
Energy healers associate the seven colors of the visible spectrum with the body's seven major energy centers, known as chakras.
Healers may position crystals and gemstones of appropriate colors on or near the body, in the vicinity of these chakras, to facilitate health and well-being. For example, a blue stone such as aquamarine—which relates to the zodiac sign Gemini and communication—placed on the throat chakra could assist someone in speaking his or her truth.
The energies present in stones are much denser than those in plants. Stones exist for a long time, and therefore they hold vibrations implanted during spells and rituals, or those picked up from their surroundings, for many years. Some psychics and sensitive individuals can actually see or feel the vibrations that emanate from stones, just as they might see or sense a person's aura. Each stone has unique properties that you can use in spellwork. You can choose a single stone for a spell or combine several whose characteristics suit your intention. The following list suggests ways you may want to include some popular and readily available stones in your magick work.
CARING FOR CRYSTALS AND GEMSTONES
Before you work with crystals and gemstones, wash them with warm water and mild soap to remove dust and energies of anyone else who may have touched the stones. Let them dry in the sunshine to further purify them. You can charge stones by holding them in incense smoke for a minute or so while chanting an incantation, or by striking a crystal singing bowl near them to imprint them with a vibration that's akin to your purposes. Treat them with respect—crystals and gems are life-forms—and they're sensitive to your thoughts and emotions.
I often use clear crystals and gems for spells that involve mental and/or spiritual issues, translucent or cloudy stones for emotional concerns, and opaque stones for physical or material matters.
Crystals and gemstones will likely occupy a prominent place in your magickal environment. They're so versatile, you can incorporate them in virtually any spell, and their beauty makes working with them a pleasure. Plus, you can wear them without anyone knowing you're doing magick. The following list gives suggestions for ways to use crystals and gemstones in spellcraft:
CASTING A GEMSTONE SPELL ON A MAGICK SQUARE
In Chapter 10 you learned about magick squares and how to design sigils on them. You can also cast a spell on a magick square using crystals or gemstones.
Choose a square that represents your intention, for example, the square for Venus if you're doing a love spell. Next, choose gemstones that correspond to your intention; in love spells, rose quartz will work nicely.
Using the Number/Letter Table in Chapter 10, find the numbers that relate to the letters LOVE (3, 6, 4, 5), and set the gemstones on those numbered squares. Cover the stones and magick square with a black cloth overnight to allow your work to gestate.
You can support the energies of crystals and gemstones by combining them with certain metals, fabrics, or other materials in your spellwork. Everything in our world resonates with distinctive energies that correspond to the heavenly bodies. Gold, for example, has long been associated with the sun, which rules Leo. Silver relates to the moon and the sign Cancer. The connections established between the celestial bodies and various metals date back to at least the seventh century BCE. Early alchemists noted the planetary positions and chose auspicious times to work with different metals. Whether you're setting stones in jewelry, objets d'art, magick tools, pendulums, or other items, pay attention to the characteristics of the materials you select.
Aries: iron, steel
Taurus: copper, brass
Gemini: mercury/quicksilver
Cancer: silver, aluminum
Leo: gold
Virgo: mercury/quicksilver
Libra: copper, brass
Scorpio: plutonium
Sagittarius: tin
Capricorn: pewter, lead
Aquarius: uranium
Pisces: platinum
Fabrics also have astrological connections. Some are obvious: Aries, the ram, naturally relates to wool; and Taurus, the bull, to leather. Other associations are based on the characteristics of a sign; for example, hemp and denim are linked to Capricorn, a sign known for its strength and endurance. Silk, which is delicate and elegant, is more closely akin in nature to Libra's qualities. Keep these correspondences in mind when choosing fabrics to hold gemstones for use in amulet and talisman pouches. Also consider the astrological associations of fabrics for altar cloths, dream pillows, and ritual clothing.
Aries: wool
Taurus: leather, flax, cotton, raime
Gemini: chintz
Cancer: flannel
Leo: sequins, lamé, brocade
Virgo: chintz, canvas
Libra: silk
Scorpio: snakeskin, recycled fabrics
Sagittarius: rubber, spandex
Capricorn: goatskin, mohair, cashmere, alpaca, hemp, denim
Aquarius: feathers, gauzy fabrics
Pisces: rayon, nylon, acrylic
Now that you understand a bit about the astrological and magickal properties of gems and materials, you can wear them and decorate your home with them to consciously create circumstances you desire. Your wardrobe and your environment provide ongoing opportunities for spellwork. It's fun, and nobody needs to know you're doing it.